Pakistan: 14 Killed As Two Churches Bombed

 Grieving families gathered outside churches in Lahore as an angry mob lynched two suspects and set fire to their bodies. At least 14 people have been killed and 80 injured after two bombs exploded outside churches in the Pakistani city of Lahore. A Taliban faction called Jamaat ul Ahrar claimed responsibility for the blasts, which targeted two churches, one Catholic and one Protestant, during Sunday services. 

An angry crowd lynched two men suspected of being involved in the attack.They were set on fire and their charred bodies were dumped near the scene, said local journalist Riaz Ahmed. Protesters also began smashing up shops and attacking vehicles. Police and several politicians were chased from the area.Pope Francis told crowds at St Peter's Square in the Vatican he was praying for peace in Pakistan, which has seen a number of attacks against Christian groups over the past decade. 

"These are Christian churches. Christians are persecuted, our brothers spill their blood simply because they are Christians," he said. Witnesses said a security guard's quick actions prevented many more deaths."I was sitting at a shop near the church when a blast jolted the area. I rushed towards the spot and saw the security guard scuffle with a man who was trying to enter the church," said witness Amir Masih. 

"After failing, he blew himself up. I saw his body parts flying through the air." The guard died as well, he said. It was not clear if the first blast was also triggered by a suicide bomber. Many Christians, who make up less than 2% of Pakistan's 180 million people, accuse the government of doing little to protect them.